It’s a decisive campaign weekend for the Republican camp and for their candidate Valérie Pécresse, who is holding her big meeting this Sunday at the Zenith in Paris. The day before, the Republicans of Charente-Maritime mobilized to support their candidate by meeting voters at the Rochefort market.
Activists are betting on a “Macron-Pécresse” duel in the second round of the presidential election, and are betting on the French’s dislike for the outgoing president to win the victory.
Bertrand Giraud is a Republican delegate and candidate in the legislative elections in Charente-Maritime. He regrets the rise of far-right candidates. “These are people who are disappointed, but I think we have to look elsewhere: extremes are not solutions” he argues.
We know very well that Mr. Zemmour or Mrs. Le Pen will never win against Mr. Macron, so it’s wasted votes and it’s the president’s life insurance.
– Sophie PODEVIN
Residents who do not feel concerned
On the Rochefort market, the exchanges remained courteous but the voters met did not seem convinced. As for Estelle, a young shopkeeper, who does not find herself in the campaign themes of the right. _“Security has never been a subject… It’s all wind, staged!_“. She does not yet know if she will vote in April.
Quite the opposite of Anne, psychoanalyst and doctor, who has already chosen her candidate. “I’m not on the right so it won’t be Madame Pécresse” she breathes. For her, the French do not suffer from a lack of commitment but from a lack of choice of candidates.
– Sophie PODEVIN
On the activist side, the market tour is over, even if there are still leaflets in their hands. Françoise, one of the members, is not worried: “The French don’t want to be talked to about politics right now, it’s the start of the holidays… The campaign will start again in a few weeks”. In the meantime, everyone goes inside to warm up over a coffee.